Remember That Time Oprah Winfrey Leaked Old Footage of Oprah Winfrey on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’?

November 14, 2005 was an amazing day. It was a Tuesday. And on this day, in the early afternoon, Oprah Winfrey decided to leak old Oprah Winfrey footage on her show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. Jim Carrey happened to be a guest on that day’s show, but that doesn’t matter, because I just said that Oprah leaked Oprah on Oprah.

Two days ago, the OWN TV YouTube account re-leaked two Oprah clips of Oprah leaking Oprah on Oprah. And this archaeological dig need not be taken lightly. Because these are classics.

1. Oprah’s Original 1983 Audition Tape

Oprah sets this clip up by saying “Ionohow I got hired.” Let me tell you exactly how you got hired, Oprah.

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.06.43 PM

That widow’s peak Afro, that necklace, those earrings, that lipstick, and that Bubblicious outfit. These are all reasons why you got hired, Oprah. Also, you spelled your name. And then said that it was “HARPO” backwards. And then you brought up Harpo Marx. All of these certainly played a part in you getting hired.

That part when you continued into your name origin story by way of Bible tales? This absolutely got you hired. Also, bringing up that you didn’t have a television and that no one in your family knew how to spell? Huge in you getting this job.

It’s pretty amazing to see 1983 Oprah and realize she’s had “it” since the very beginning. Or, in this case, even before the beginning. But, as great as this is, it isn’t close to the best throwback Oprah clip from that beautiful Tuesday in November of 2005.

2. GAYLE’S BEHIND-THE-SCENES OPRAH VIDEOS FROM SEASON 2

This clip has everything you could want in old-school Oprah and Gayle. Stedman with a curl in a cream turtleneck?

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.16.59 PM

 

Oprah wearing an Oprah sweatshirt?

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.18.22 PM

 

Oprah hitting Stedman over the head with celery stalks after not answering Gayle’s question about a wedding and thus getting curl juice all over the celery?

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.17.44 PM

 

 

Oprah giving Gayle’s daughter Kirby a ride through Chateau HARPO?

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.18.41 PM

 

Oprah and Gayle in shades, looking like South Side Thelma and Louise?

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.20.28 PM

 

This picture of Oprah and Dolly?

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.21.58 PM

 

THIS?

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.22.10 PM

But it’s not just the images. As great as they are, the conversations are the true gems.

Gayle: There are so many different hairdos

Oprah: It shows that I’m a very versatile woman. It shows I’m not stagnated in one position by life — I’m willing to change. 

Gayle: Ehh, I don’t think that’s what it shows. I think it shows “I don’t know what to do with my hair.”

That could be the entire video and I’d be satisfied, because that is immaculate best friend verbal side-eye. But there’s still so much more. And it’s finding a way to get better. Like the next scene, in which Oprah walks out onto her show, saying “Oprah’s coming out.” Or what follows, which is fantastic.

Gayle: Do you like being a boss?

Oprah: Uh, yes. I like being a boss and I’m a very good one.

AND THEN SHE GLARES AT GAYLE:

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.35.51 PM

AND THEN SHE RICH-WOMAN-CHUCKLES AT GAYLE:

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.33.30 PM

 

Gayle: She says, ever so modestly.

Oprah: And I’m very modest about it, but I’m a very good one because I pay people very well for the work that they do because I remember when I wasn’t paid well.

This entire exchange makes Rick Ross look like Amélie.

Gayle: You really don’t see yourself in the same category as being a celebrity?

Oprah: There’s a difference between being a celebrity for 17 minutes, uh, and being a legend.

Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.42.02 PM

We really are not worthy.

Filed Under: Oprah, TV, Rembert Browne, Legends, GAYLE

Rembert Browne is a staff writer for Grantland.

Archive @ rembert